Seeking Treatment Appropriately

If you need to seek medical treatment, please be sure to seek care appropriately for the condition/ situation. To give you an example, here are a few common ways to seek treatment:

Cold/ Flu — most of the time, you can walk to the nearest pharmacy and purchase standard over the counter cold and flu remedies that will help alleviate your symptoms. If your condition worsens or you need to seek medical treatment please DO NOT go to the Emergency Room, but locate a doctor or urgent care center in your area using the online search tool; call them up and make an appointment.

General Sickness/ Feeling Unwell — unless your symptoms are severe, please DO NOT visit the Emergency Room for general sickness, but rather locate a doctor or urgent care center in your area using the online search tool to find a doctor in your area; call them up and make an appointment.

Acute Sickness/ Emergencies — if you experience an accident or an acute illness that comes on very quickly and you need medical attention immediately please make your way to the nearest Emergency Room or call the emergency services in your country for immediate help and assistance.

As with anything, we ask you to use your judgment with a situation, if you feel you need immediate attention please do not delay and go straight to the Emergency Room. If you condition is not severe, then you can either visit a local doctor or urgent care center.

Healthcare Tips when Abroad

Conditions related to change in surroundings or situation affects the health of many international travelers. Changes in the level of stress related to the new surroundings, pressures to learn a new language, changes in diet or environmental factors such as heat/cold/pollen often lead to fatigue, headaches and stomach-aches. This certainly applies to international exchange participants.

Diet
A change in diet can affect your health & feeling of wellness. Recognize that in addition to making certain that you receive the proper nutrition, it may be wise to maintain a diet similar to what you are accustomed. This is particularly true if you have adopted a faster pace, and rely more on fast-food restaurants and vending machines. If your diet at home has been primarily vegetables, rice, beans or fish, a switch to the red meats and fatty foods that are common at fast food restaurants can cause stomach problems. Finally, a healthy diet is highly recommended to assist the body’s immune system fight illnesses.

Stress
The beginning of any new exchange program can be an extremely stressful experience. There are pressures of adapting to the new environment and uncertain expectations. Your exchange organization offices often serve as transitional support for students dealing with personal issues such as stress and adjusting to new circumstances. International exchange has been aptly presented as both an opportunity and a challenge. You need to be aware of how the resources are made available to meet these challenges.

Safety
Personal safety is a concern anywhere and at anytime but it does become more of a concern when living abroad. Without being fully aware of one's new surroundings, you may not be aware of new risks associated with your new home and the precautions needed to protect yourself and your property. These concerns vary by location, but in general, the main worries are associated with personal safety, sexual assault, protection of personal property, racial / religious hate crimes or bigotry and safety issues associated with driving (whether autos or bicycles).

One of your first tasks of adjusting to your new home is to become acquainted with new surroundings and the challenges it may present. You should be certain to check with your Advisor or Public Safety office to help in your safety assessment of your new home and to get safety tips.

Substance Abuse
The problem of substance abuse affects many involved in exchange activities. The causes vary. Sometimes it is associated with the stress of a new environment or the pressures associated with a new language. Sometimes it develops from the independence or choice presented by their new living situation.

Workers Compensation Insurance

In the USA, all businesses are required to carry Workers Compensation Insurance to cover their employee’s medical bills and lost wages if they become injured while at their workplace. There are some exceptions to coverage, but as a general rule of thumb all employers need to carry this type of insurance. In return, employers receive immunity from civil lawsuits by employees over such workplace injuries.

What does Workers Compensation Insurance cover?
If you get injured during your work hours, your workers compensation insurance plan will cover your medical expenses, most of the time with no deductible or out of pocket expenses to pay, along with temporary total disability payments of up to two-thirds of your average weekly wage after missing three days of work, and if you are off work more than 14 days, you are then paid for the first three days of work missed.

Where can I find information about my Workers Compensation Coverage?
It is required by law (unless the employer is exempt) that information about Workers Compensation Insurance be posted in a prominent position in the workplace. The posting should have information about the plan administrator who manages your plan, including their contact telephone number, and the policy number. If information is not posted, you should ask your employer for the information immediately.

What if I get injured on the job?
If you get injured while working, you need to inform your employer immediately. They should then help you with seeking medical treatment and making sure the medical provider is aware of your Workers Compensation Insurance that is place. It is then the responsibility of your employer to notify the insurance company who is providing the workers compensation insurance plan.

Points to remember:
If you do happen to get injured – a few things to remember:

You travel insurance plan should NOT be used and will not provide coverage for any injuries that occur at the work place, that is what Workers Compensation Insurance is for.

Inform your employer immediately if you do get injured, as they in turn need to report that to the Workers Compensation Insurance company themselves.

Be prepared and ask for details about your Workers Compensation Insurance plan ahead of time if you cannot locate that information (which should already be posted in a common area for all workers)